Dress size worries...

Wedding dress sizes are mostly made up, like women's pant size. I'm a size 20 typically but ended with a size 18 dress. You'll just have to try on it once it comes and remember it's easier to remove fabric than add

It does seem a little big but also they have to order based on the shape of your dress and your biggest measurements. I personally have an hourglass, so smallish waist and larger hips and they had to order based on my hip measurement not my waist. Since a lot of dress styles hug your hips that might be the reason your size is a little bigger. And as PP said, if the sizing is off, it's better to be a bit too big rather than too small

I'm a size 18/20 and my dress is a 22 (needs to be altered smaller). The women at the shop said that people usually have to go up a couple sizes.

I wear a UK Size 12/14 (I'm in the U.K.) depending on the garment and and the fit and my dress has been ordered in a UK 18. I've been told wedding dresses tend to run small so it's quite normal for your dress to be ordered in a larger size than you would normally wear. I wouldn't worry too much about the other girl who is the same dress size as you and ordered an 18. Off the rack dress sizes really don't account for shape whatsoever and she may be a completely different shape to you. They will order the dress for the largest part of your body then take it in where they need to. So, I have really big boobs in comparison to the rest of me, so the dress size ordered fits my chest measurements and the rest will be nipped and tucked to fit my shape. Hope that helps 🙂

View Quoted Comment

I'm also an hourglass shape so that makes sense but it's a ballgown so I probably should have stepped in and made them order based on waist. The sample size was a 14 and I was able to put it on. The zipper starts above the hip.

Wedding dress sizes are "true" sizes. Over the years sizes have become vanity sizes.

I usually wear a size 10 in dresses. I was measured for my dress and at the time I fit into the size 14 range. I ordered a size 10 anyway knowing I would have to lose 2 dress sizes before alterations.

Just for reference going up or down a dress size is 2 inches overall, my bridal shop says its about 15lbs.

To me, that does seem like too many sizes to be going up, but I guess that’s just how they do their measurements? I am usually a size 6 - 8, and they told me to order a 10 and I did. When my dress came in, I actually had gained a few pounds by then, it was still at least 2 inches too big! I am just hoping this won’t increase alternation cost. What I have heard is they can make the dress go up or down 2 sizes.

Don’t worry so much about the final size of the wedding dress. I truly believe everyone sizes up! I’m normally a size 2/4 and after getting measurements done they said my waist was a size zero (I normally cannot fit into a size 0 anything) and bust size 10 so we had to order the 10! That’s at least 4 sizes up than anything I would ever wear. But the sizing up helps with tailoring and will allow your seamstress more freedom when she’s doing alterations

View Quoted Comment

I wouldn't be concerned about going up 2 sizes, but I am concerned about going up 4 sizes. My jeans are usually a US12 and dresses a US14 so a 22 seems really off for me and I haven't heard of anyone going up that many sizes so it's a bit jarring.

Is there anyway to maybe go back to the store and have them find you a few dresses that are a similar style and fit and have you try them on?

The whole sizing thing freaked me out too! I didn't fit in the sample they had on the floor, they ordered me an 18 (I'm anywhere from an 8-12 normally) and when it came in and I tried it on...swimming! I literally pulled it up without unzipping and had to hold it up. They ordered me the next size down and it's still big, but the girl altering my dress said she would rather deal with too big than too small.

View Quoted Comment

See this makes me nervous!! I won't have time to reorder and I know they can alter it but it's lace so it may not look perfect, ya know?

Agree with most others here. I’m usually 2/4 in dresses and I ordered a size 6.

I lucked out that I had time to reorder, I would definitely do what someone else suggested and find similar dress by maker or find a shop that may have size you think you need on the floor to try of dress you ordered.

View Quoted Comment

I get that. That is 1-2 sizes. 4 sizes seems excessive.

It's all based on your measurements. Street sizing, I wear a 12 mostly. But my wedding dress, which was ordered based on my measurements, is a 16. Yikes! But that's how wedding dress sizing goes. It just means that the dress I ordered will fit perfectly in some areas of my body, and need to be altered on other areas. So, the dress fits me in the hip area, but will need to be taken in at the waist and bust. Don't freak out on the sizing. It's just the way it works. As long as they measured you properly, your dress will be fine.

I was concerned when I was measured too because she ordered me a size 12. She said I was in between a size 10 and 12 and it is better to go up because when we alter it, it's easier to make it smaller then let it out. Makes sense to me. But I was shocked because my pants are a size 2 sometimes 4. I also felt like it was a huge difference and she told me that was normal for wedding dresses. So my dress just came in and I haven't gotten to go try it on yet. But the sample size I tried on in the store was a 10. So I know she isn't crazy the dress sizes are just like that.

I wear a street size 14 and tried on several size 18/20 that were just a little too big.